Manual rhythm light instrument

ABSTRACT

A manually distortable light reflective medium mounted upon a base and variable colored light means for projecting light upon said medium to be reflected therefrom as rhythmic light patterns.

0 United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,801,186

Dian Apr. 2, 1974 [54] MANUAL RHYTHM LIGHT INSTRUMENT 3,004,472 10/1961 Buxton 350 295 1 [76] Inventor: Russell man, 8156 192nd i /2 1 33; x1333 i ia ck .1 40/l06.52

Jamaica, NY. 11431 2 1 1 72 [2 Flled July 3 9 Primary Examiner-Ronald L. Wibert [21] App]. No.: 276,745 Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Tokar [52] US. Cl 350/285, 40/l06.52, 272/8,

272/10, 350/288 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. G02f 1/34 of Search A manually distortable reflective medium 235, 295 mounted upon a base and variable colored light means i for projecting light upon said medium to be reflected References Clted therefrom as rhythmic light patterns.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,707,103 4/1955 Fischinger 272/10 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MANUAL RHYTHM LIGHT INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Light Shows have been performed before audiences wherein musical rhythms are combined with and are used to control the projection of light patterns syncopa'ted with the musical rhythms. In a very real sense, such light pattern variation is merely a prescribed mechanical interrelationship between recorded music transformed into light. While such presentations provide pleasant visual effects, they are only technically creative, and lack the spontaneity which accompanies a performance by a human artist.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a manual light rhythm projector or illustrator which can be playedin the same way that a musician plays his instrument. The device of the present invention may be played with or without musical accompaniment, singly or in concert with other light projecting instruments or devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there has been devised a manually operable light rhythm projection instrument so designed as to be held in the hands of the artist. The instrument comprises a base and means for conviently and resiliently mounting thereon a flexible reflective medium such as illuminized mylar. Extending from said base is an arm which mounts means for projecting and varying the projection of colored light upon the reflective medium. The artist can manually distort the reflecting medium while it receives the colored light so that variable, colored and distorted light patterns may be projected from the reflecting medium to an adjacent wall or screen surface.

The structure by which the above is accomplished is more specifically described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel rhythm light instrument according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of the light source and variable color means of the instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken in the direction of arrows 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, a light rhythm instrument 10 constructed according to the present invention has been illustrated. The instrument 10 has a base 11 upon which is mounted a distortable light reflective medium 12 in a manner which will be described. At one end, the base is integrally connected to an arm 13 which supports at a suitable distance and angle, a light source 14 and rotatable color wheel 15. The base 11 is contoured and is of a length and width that will conveniently permit a user to hold the instrument in the same manner that a guitar is held. Thus, the left hand of a right-handed person can readily rest upon different parts of the light reflecting medium 12 for manipulation thereof.

As seen in FIG. 2, the light source 14 consists of an outer plastic housing 16 having a lower face plate 17 connected thereto. Plate 17 mounts a reflector l8 and bulb 19 immediately above an opening 20 in the plate 17. Switch 21 operated by button 22 externally accessible of housing 16, controls actuation of the bulb 19. Wire connections 23, 24 to the switch 21 and bulb 19 conduct current thereto from a battery pack housed in base 11.

Immediately adjacent to reflector 18 is a small lowspeed electric motor 26 attached to plate 17 by threaded connectors 27. Motor 26 wired in series with bulb 19 by wire leads 28, rotates a color wheel 15 which contains several transparent colored elements (not shown) in the usual manner in side-by-side relation.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the base 11 is hollow, having upper, lower and end walls 11a-1 1c. Within a central portion of the base 11 is a battery compartment 30 for retaining therein batteries 31. Contact plates 32 at each end of the compartment conduct current to lead 33 and thence to light source 14.

Secured to the base 11 by pin attachments 34 is the deformable reflective member 12. Member 12 consists of a sponge rubber backing 12a and a reflective upper covering 12b such as, for example, sheet reflective il- Iuminized mylar. As seen in FIG. 1, the fingers of the hand of the artist will be brought into contact with the member 12 which can thus be manually distorted in order to vary the light pattern transmitted from light source 14 transmitted by member 12 to any suitable screen or wall 35. It will be noted that the base and the shape of the instrument generally is that of a guitar, with the position of the member 12 on the base being analoguous to the strings of a guitar. The artist, who will of course observe the effect of the light variations as they occur, will be able to more or less repetitively reproduce different patterns of projected light whether with or without musical accompaniment. One or more of the light instruments of the invention can be played to produce the rythmic and artistic visual effects.

It will be understood that the foregoing description has been of a particular embodiment of the invention and is, therefore, representative. In order to appreciate the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-held manually operable light rhythm projection instrument comprising an elongated base generally having the shape of a guitar, said base defining a surface analogous to the stringed area of a guitar, said surface being accessible to the hand of a person holding the instrument as are the strings of a guitar, a resilient, manually distortable light reflecting medium having a mirrored'surface mounted upon said base surface, a light source, and means mounted upon and movable with said base in predetermined spaced relation to said light reflecting medium for holding said light source in position to direct light upon said medium, whereby said instrument may be held and carried by a user in the manner of a guitar and said medium may be manually and rhythmically distorted to project light onto adjacent surroundings.

2. The light rhythm projection instrument according to claim 1 wherein a rotatable transparent color wheel is interposed between said light source and reflecting medium, means for effecting rotation of said wheel, and said light source holding means includes means for mounting said wheel. 

1. A hand-held manually operable light rhythm projection instrument comprising an elongated base generally having the shape of a guitar, said base defining a surface analogous to the stringed area of a guitar, said surface being accessible to the hand of a person holding the instrument as are the strings of a guitar, a resilient, manually distortable light reflecting medium having a mirrored surface mounted upon said base surface, a light source, and means mounted upon and movable with said base in predetermined spaced relation to said light reflecting medium for holding said light source in position to direct light upon said medium, whereby said instrument may be held and carried by a user in the manner of a guitar and said medium may be manually and rhythmically distorted to project light onto adjacent surroundings.
 2. The light rhythm projection instrument according to claim 1 wherein a rotatable transparent color wheel is interposed between said light source and reflecting medium, means for effecting rotation of said wheel, and said light source holding means includes means for mounting said wheel. 